July was a full month after coming back from time away. It was a whirlwind to jump back into the swing of things. The best part of the month was getting more time with my son, Sammy. From taking him on errands with me to ending the month with a couple of days just the two of us. Here’s a roundup of all I read, listened to, and played throughout July.
BOOKS
I read significantly less for pleasure. Most of my reading was less whole volumes and more study for sermon prep. That being said I snuck in a couple reads.
The Gospel for Enthusiasts – Tyler Zack
I know it’s not 2018 anymore, but I still find the enneagram to be a helpful tool from time to time. This book was okay. There were moments when it felt like it was reading my mail, and other times it seemed like it was written for someone else. People are far more complicated than any personality test can capture. That being said, it was wonderful to read a book that largely encouraged the best traits of being an enneagram seven. Most of what I read is, “stop traveling and feel pain, dagummit!” So, seeing the elements of Jesus exemplified in a naturally joyful person was refreshing.
Live No Lies – John Mark Comer
This is one of those books I have been meaning to read for a long time. I was pleasantly surprised by Comer’s simplicity in tackling the lies we often succumb to from the devil, our flesh, and the world. There are some really great nuggets here. Comer’s gift is his ability to simplify complicated ideas. “Deceptive ideas that play to disordered desires that are normalized in a sinful society.” A great read.
The Unwavering Pastor – Jonathan Dodson
Wow. Absolutely excellent. This is one I will definitely be buying for my brothers in ministry. Dodson masterfully guides you to living water. At times, it felt like having coffee with an old friend, and at other moments, it was like an emotion-filled counseling session. This is definitely a “you’re not crazy” book for people in ministry. There are too many great quotes to share. If you think you might like this book, just buy it.
Music
July was a month of nostalgia-laced new tunes for me. Every summer, I revisit some of my favorite pop-punk, emo, and emo-punk tracks. Maybe it’s the nostalgia of bygone Warped Tour and Cornerstone days. That being said, I had two new albums that really caught my ear.
The Story So Far – I Want to Disappear
(Spotify / Apple Music)
The Story So Far has been one of my favorite bands for years. Their 2013 sophomore album, *What You Don’t See*, is one of my all-time favorite records. This new album is my favorite since that release. It’s pure pop-punk nostalgia. My buddy Michael walked by my office and said, “It sounds like 2004 in here.” I take that as a compliment. Parker’s vocals alone are worth checking out, but the instrumentation on this album (and really all of their stuff) is incredible.
For When You Can’t Breathe – A Home That Doesn’t Exist
(Spotify / Apple Music)
Admittedly, I discovered this through a Taco Bell meme. Regardless, this is pure emo nostalgia. It has all the tinges of Midwest emo with the crooning of yesteryear. I love it. It’s so sad. Why do I like this?! I don’t know, but I have enjoyed it so, so, so much. I will say the vocals on this are significantly more pleasant than a lot of the emo-revival tunes out there.
Songs I Enjoyed This Month
- “No Turning Back ” – Idle Threat –Apple/Spotify
- “I Know Everything” – Ghost Chant –Apple/Spotify
- “Babylon (Say It To My Face)” – Greyscale –Apple/Spotify
- “Bone To Pick” – I Am Terrified –Apple/Spotify
- “Tiger Lily” – What Haunts You Apple/Spotify
Board Games
I had a lot of fun playing games this month. From getting stuff off the shelf of shame, to revisiting old gems, to just laughing at terrible games, it was a blast. Also, my son Sammy got to go with me to a game night, and it was so fun to have him come along!
I played this back in 2019, and it has sat on the shelf for years since then! This is such a fun economic game. The stock market mechanic combined with a simple auction is just *chef’s kiss* perfect. It’s an easy game to teach with a great depth of strategy beneath its unassuming surface.
We pulled this one out for our game night with Sammy. Man, I have played the mess out of this dexterity game. It’s a simple flicking game, but it is so fun. Sammy loves flinging the penguins all over the place. The theme is that you have three penguins trying to go around a school and pass through different checkpoints first. Then, an additional penguin acts as the “hall monitor,” trying to tag all the other penguins. It’s easiest to let Sammy be the hall monitor so he just has to focus on tagging the other penguins. This game is fun for both kids and adults.
This is a stellar first game. If your kid is 2-4 years old, this is a great game to teach basic principles like taking turns, color matching, counting, and more. It has really great big pieces, making it perfect for little hands. Sammy loves it when the crow eats all the fruit!
This has been on my shelf of shame since 2018. Yikes! I finally grabbed it to decide if I wanted to trade it or keep it. The theme on this one is rough and not family-friendly. You play as a crime lord in the ’60s, and while it’s not explicit, it does insinuate some taboo things. The basics of this game are a simple drafting mechanic. It holds up really well for being an older game. We played it multiple times, and I still keep thinking of different combos I should’ve tried. I think if this one was re-themed and re-released, it would do super well!
This is one I have wanted to play for a while. I remember seeing a review for the original Japanese release, Let’s Build a Bus Route. This is a very puzzling flip-and-write game. We only played it once, and I absolutely need to play it again. My biggest complaint is that the rule book is wonky. The information is all there, but it’s not easy to quickly reference. If you like route-building games, this is right up your alley.
This game was brought to our group by someone who backed it on Kickstarter and wanted to play. To be clear, I hate this game. That being said, I would play it again—only because of the hijinks of the guys in my game group. It’s an auction game with a ton of “take that” elements. You’re all fighting over Grandma’s useless heirlooms she left behind. Think Munchkin or Exploding Kittens. Those games have their place, but they just aren’t my favorite. That being said, this game got the most laughs of the month.
We only played it once, but I really enjoyed this little card game. It’s a bit esoteric and quirky. This is one of those games that makes the most sense when you actually play it. It feels like a classic card game. The artwork is also stellar. Such an amusing little game.
Personally, this may be my new go-to welcoming game. It’s small, simple, and fun, with just enough strategy to scratch the gamer itch. The puzzle is fun and engaging, and above all, it is dead simple to teach. Did I mention it’s beautiful? I picked this one up on a whim, and I am so glad I did. It’s a great start or end to a game night. A good pub game. I dig it.
On July
July was filled with nostalgic tunes, engaging reads, and memorable game nights, making it a month to remember. I’m looking forward to discovering even more hidden gems and sharing those experiences with you all next month!
SOLI DEO GLORIA - Billy Glosson 
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